Drivers Swarm To Giveaway At Southwest Side Gas Station

A gas giveaway was held at this Mobil station at 45th Street and Pulaski Road Thursday morning. (Credit: Bernie Tafoya/WBBM Newsradio/CBS)

CHICAGO (CBS) — There was a free gas giveaway on 45th Street and Pulaski Road Thursday morning, and unsurprisingly, the line into the gas station was long.

“I’ve been waiting in line for over, like, three hours,” said Samantra Sparks, a single, unemployed mother who drove a few miles from southwest suburban Chicago Ridge to take advantage of the giveaway. The Mobil station gave $20 in gas to the first 200 motorists who showed up.

The event was part of a promotional campaign in favor of community banking over mega-banking.

Randy Fox of First State Bank says small banks and credit unions have been getting more business since the big bank bailouts, and it has a lot to do with the services they offer.

“We’re able to do the things that the big banks do,” Fox said.

Bank promotion or not, most people were more than happy to take advantage of an offer for free gas.

“I decided to make it a day – do what I’ve got to do. I needed gas. I’m unemployed,” one motorist said. “Two and two equals four.”